3 Stage Snow Blower | Troy Bilt Vortex 2890 Review

When you are literally faced with a great deal of snow to get through, you need a machine that can get the job done. Thick, packed snow can be a chore to move, especially when you need to get to your car for work. It’s jobs like these where a 3-stage snow blower can really come in handy over your other typical snow blower machines.

How Does it Work? | 3 Stage Snow Blower

All snow blowers are designed to move or ‘throw’ snow using an auger that spins. A 3-stage snow blower, however, uses two heavy-duty spinning augers for greater clearing capacity to push through and clear heavy piles of snow. Unlike a single stage and dual stage snow blower, 3 stage snow blowers consist of an accelerator to efficiently move more snow in less time through the chute. As the name implies, it uses a 3-stage process to collect, gather and throw a greater amount of snow.

In comparison to the single stage snow blowers and 2-stage snow blowers, the 3 stage snow blower is a beast. The primary difference lies in the augers made of stainless steel.

This will handle a blizzard and keep going.

In the first stage of clearing snow using one of these machines, the augers can break up hard, packed piles of snow which is then gathered and carried directly to the induction accelerator. This is the second stage where the accelerator finely chops the snow into a powdery substance, bringing us to the third stage where it is pushed into the impeller or chute to be thrown. These babies can take on up to a 21-inch deep snowfall with no problem and has the power to throw the snow up to 50 feet away! Just make sure you aim the directional chute considerately so as not to bury your neighbors.

3 Stage Snow Blower | Who is it For?

These types of snow blowers are more practical for those who have larger areas to clear. They can clear through over 60-feet areas in a fraction of the time as their competitors. This could make a huge difference in the life of someone who has a large driveway and needing a faster way to clear through that mountain of snow the city plow so generously left behind. But this incredible power and convenience does come at a higher price tag, so take this into consideration if you are thinking of buying one.

Advantages | 3 stage Snow Blower

If you need further convincing that a 3 stage snow blower is worth the expense, consider this – with high performance at a 50% greater rate to move snow faster, these will save you more in gas in the long-haul. Greater efficiency means more snow cleared for better results and less time spent outside in the cold so you can get to the things that really matter. These units can clear a wider path than single stage and even some 2 stage snow blowers to eliminate the need of having to go back repeatedly to clear an entire walkway.

Here’s a thought for those who may consider purchasing a snow blower for commercial use — the greater efficiency of a 3-stage unit will take less time to get the job done leaving room for improved availability of your services. This could amount to a greater return on investment by having the ability the take on more clients. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to boost their potential revenue with their small business?

If you’re going to invest in a 3 stage snow blower then you are looking to move mountains! The Vortex 2890 3-Stage snow blower can get the job done with a hefty Troy-Bilt electric-start engine that powers the 12” accelerator, which spins at a rate 10 times faster than the augers. It was clearly designed to break through the heaviest and wettest of snowfalls with ease. It will clear a driveway or walkway with as much as 21 inches of snow with one single pass.

The Touch ‘n Turn power steering is a must with this powerful machine to provide easier maneuverability when you’re plowing through that wall of snow. The One-Hand operation gives you added convenience to make adjustments easily while you’re operating it. I also want to note that the X-Trac tires are also designed to take on the task of moving through great heaps of snow with superior traction. This is a considerable feature to factor in when considering a unit that is capable of clearing through snow on an uneven surface.

While they were at it, the manufacturers also added a thoughtful feature — heated hand grips — so you can hold on longer, more comfortably while braving the elements. It’s pretty easy to use with the push-button electric start so there’s no need for pulling as with a manual recoil starter. Although bigger and heavier than your 1-stage and 2-stage machines, it is still easy to maneuver and balanced to give you better performance.

6 forward & 2 reverse speeds.

I must say that the Vortex 2890 3 Stage Snow Blower is quite an impressive machine. If you live in an area that periodically receives blasts of heavy snow storms or thick snowfalls, you will see great use with this particular machine.

Consumer Reports has also reviewed this 3-stage snow blower and the gave it a score of 90/100 and had this to say about it:

Removal speed was excellent.

Plow-pile removal was excellent.

Throwing distance was excellent.

Surface cleaning was very good.

Handling was excellent.

Ease of using the controls was excellent.

In summary, this is a stunning 3 stage snow blower that will literally handle massive amounts of snow quickly and efficiently. If you live in an area with heavy-snowfall then this is a must-have piece of equipment. Perfect for commercial applications or for homeowners with large properties. It’s expensive but worth the money.

Are 3 Stage Snow Blowers the Future?

The 3-stage snow blower is not as popular or even in high demand as 2-stage snow blowers due in part that they were designed for heavy-duty use to tackle serious snow. A 2-stage unit is generally more practical for average snowfalls and much cheaper. That being said, with unpredictable weather changes, you may see more heavy snow falls during some winters than others.

While a 2-stage unit may get the job done, it will more than likely take far longer to achieve the same results as you would with a 3 stage snow blower. You would have to make numerous passes through thick snow to match the clearing capability of a 3-stage unit. This can potentially raise your risk of developing cold-temperature related conditions as a result of prolonged exposure outdoors.

In the fast paced world we are so accustomed to living to, many consumers are willing to pay extra for the convenience of a machine that saves them time and lessens the possibility of injuries and health risks. This is especially true for a machine that provides quality along with efficiency. We may be seeing much more in 3-stage snow blowers on the market as consumers come to find the value they can provide.